Johnny Long Legs Read Online Free PDF Page B

let Jim play.
    The game was tied at the end of the first quarter, 11 to 11. In the second quarter the Hornets broke the tie when a little
     redheaded boy sank a corner shot. The ball struck the net without touching the rim.
    The White Cats tossed the ball in from out of bounds. Cotton Cornish dribbled it across the center line, then whipped it to
     Stitch Buttons. A fiery Hornet went after Stitch and Stitch passed to Johnny.
    Johnny considered taking a shot. He was just outside of the foul-shooting lane and not far from the basket. But in a wink
     Jim was there in front of him, his arms beating up and down like the wings of a hummingbird. Johnny passed to Rick.
    Rick dribbled toward the basket, went up, and shot. At the same time a Hornet struck his wrist.
Shreeeek!
went the whistle. The ball swiveled through the net.
    The ref signaled that the basket counted and that Rick was entitled to one shot. Rick made it, putting the Cats ahead, 14
     to 13.
    The Hornets took the ball down to their basket, tried to move in close with it, but couldn't. The Cats had formed a human
     wall to defend the basket. Only a daring player would try to break through it.
    A daring player did. Jim Sain. He broke through the wall, with his right shoulder striking Cotton so hard that Cotton fell.
     The whistle shrilled as Jim leaped under the basket, laid the ball up against the boards, and sank it.
    The ref shook his head sideways and yelled, “No basket!” Then he pointed a fingerat Jim. “Charging!” he said, and gave the ball to the White Cats.
    Jim made a face then ran downcourt to help defend his basket. Johnny and Toby exchanged grins. That time Jim's daring charge
     had backfired.
    Toby took out the ball and passed it to Johnny. Johnny tossed it to Cotton, who he figured was a better dribbler than himself.
     Cotton dribbled to the center line where a Hornet buzzed at him and made a stab for the ball. Cotton stopped on a dime, pivoted
     on his right foot, and passed to Rick. Rick faked a shot and then passed to Toby, who was running down the right sideline.
     Toby caught the ball, stopped to shoot, but two players swarmed upon him instantly. One clamped his hand on the ball, trapping
     it.
    Jump ball.
    Toby outjumped his opponent but a Hornetcaught the tap and started upcourt in a fast sprint. There was no White Cat within yards of him. He leaped, laid the ball
     nicely against the boards, and scored two points.
    Again Toby took out the ball. He wasn't grinning now. Neither was Johnny. Johnny caught the pass from Toby and bounced it
     to Rick. Rick passed to Cotton, who again dribbled the ball to the center line, then across it, where a Hornet stopped him.
    Cotton passed to Nat Newton who was in for Stitch. Nat dribbled to the left sideline then passed to Huck, who was running
     in toward the basket. Huck caught the pass and laid it up. Two points.
    The game moved along swiftly, both teams playing equally well. The score remained close with the lead changing from one team
     to the other and back again.
    At the midway point of the second quarter Coach Dates put in Ken Addison in place ofRick and Dale Michaels in place of Toby. A couple of minutes later he sent in Buzz Elliot in place of Cotton. Johnny noticed
     that Coach Smith had put in substitutes too.
    The fresh new players made little difference with the score. It was a tie seconds before the half ended. Ken sank one from
     the corner to break it, putting the Cats in the lead, 31 to 29, when the whistle blew.
    Johnny was glad for the intermission. He was tired and the rest would do him good. He had played the entire first half.
    He started the second half too. Hardly half a minute passed when Jim had the ball, dribbling toward the Cats basket. Johnny
     sprang after him.
I'm going to stop this shot,
he promised himself,
even if I foul him.
    He brushed past a Hornet and put his hand flat against the ball as Jim started to leap. Jim scarcely got off the floor. He
     looked from the basket to